Kids gone to uni and house feels empty

For the first time, both our kids have gone off to uni this weekend (one in final year, one in first). We've always been a really close family - both Mrs Beanz and I lost parents as children - and we've enjoyed spending time talking with our offspring, eating together, watching tv, shopping - just ordinary family stuff.

When we got home from dropping son off today (daughter went yesterday), we didn't know what to do with ourselves! The place is so quiet! No music blaring out of bedrooms, no requests for lifts into town, no sudden needs for this or that item of ironing, no me discovering all the hot water has been used up for baths, no tapping on bedroom doors to wish 'night-night' (or ask for tv's to be turned down so we oldies can get to sleep!) ...

The funny thing is, we both thought we were pretty immune to getting sentimental about it. Then on the way home, we stopped off for a coffee in the cafe at the park and got into a brief conversation with a mum and dad who were teaching their youngest to ride a bike. Cue opening of memory dam, cue Mrs Beanz suddenly in tears!

I know it's just another step along life's line, but I've been quite amazed how unsettling I've found it.

If it's any comfort, my parents and I were (and still are) really close and although Mum never admitted it, I think they found the sudden silence hard when I'd gone to uni. But what I've noticed in the 14 (aagh) years since I left home was that their relationship is better than ever, it's like they're a couple again instead of parents, and I love seeing that. I think Frog was right, this is a fantastic new step in your life.

For the first time, both our kids have gone off to uni this weekend (one in final year, one in first). We've always been a really close family - both Mrs Beanz and I lost parents as children - and we've enjoyed spending time talking with our offspring, eating together, watching tv, shopping - just ordinary family stuff.

When we got home from dropping son off today (daughter went yesterday), we didn't know what to do with ourselves! The place is so quiet! No music blaring out of bedrooms, no requests for lifts into town, no sudden needs for this or that item of ironing, no me discovering all the hot water has been used up for baths, no tapping on bedroom doors to wish 'night-night' (or ask for tv's to be turned down so we oldies can get to sleep!) ...

The funny thing is, we both thought we were pretty immune to getting sentimental about it. Then on the way home, we stopped off for a coffee in the cafe at the park and got into a brief conversation with a mum and dad who were teaching their youngest to ride a bike. Cue opening of memory dam, cue Mrs Beanz suddenly in tears!

I know it's just another step along life's line, but I've been quite amazed how unsettling I've found it.

Anyone else had this happen?

Click to expand...

Slighty worse. My eldest son joined the army and had been in active combat in Afghanistan. At least with universtity, they almost always come back alive and unmaimed.

Stick with it Sheddy! The oldest will hopefully be a great help in making it easier for your next one when they go - daughter has definitely benefitted from hearing of our son's experiences over his last three years of uni.

Anyway, Mrs B slept well last night. I think some of the problem was the logistics of getting them off to uni in the first place.

Hard to believe after all that packing - they only managed to forget a couple of things - daughter has left her phone charger at home and son left his mp3 earphones. Neither Earth-shattering to me, but I'm sure we'll be getting requests to forward them shortly!

I have high hopes of getting Mrs B into more winter cycling than last year - we were talking about that over dinner last evening. Also, I've been saving for a new digital camera so I'm hoping we can get out walking / cycling more, exploring and photographing the countryside and maybe I'll even start a Flickr album...

... generally, I expect we'll be talking quite a lot about remembering what it was like before we had kids!

Hard to believe after all that packing - they only managed to forget a couple of things - daughter has left her phone charger at home and son left his mp3 earphones. Neither Earth-shattering to me, but I'm sure we'll be getting requests to forward them shortly!

Click to expand...

Yes, also requests for cash.

I can't imagine what it must be like to pack off your kids. I'm at least 14-15 years off that, even though I'm quite ancient (by comparison to some). I'll just enjoy what's to come over that period.

Still, as others have said, I'd be swinging from the Chandaliers by now.